Long Island Frozen Pipe Winterization 

Frozen Pipes Need to Take a Hike!

Do you feel that frigid winter air? Well, your home’s pipes are affected by it, too. Plus, they are not as resilient as you might think. In fact, pipes exposed to the extreme cold can freeze. If this happens, you will come face to face with the potential for serious property damage. Luckily, you can bring your frozen pipe worries in from the cold by turning to Sal Manzo Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc.'s team. Our team will insulate your pipes for their protection—and yours. We will also show you how to best winterize your pipes and other areas of your home to avoid disaster.

Snowbirds, a Word or Two… Before You Escape to the Tropics…

The Sal Manzo Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. Team can winterize your home, helping to prevent major damage from occurring during your absence. We have encountered many homeowners who come back from a beautiful vacation, or a long winter hiatus, to find the pipes in the home had frozen and burst while away. This is preventable, call the Team at Sal Manzo Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. and allow our skills and experience to save you from unwanted chaos.

For homeowners planning extended absences during winter, understanding the full spectrum of winterization is vital. This includes not only turning off the water supply but also draining all the water from the pipes to prevent any water from freezing. The use of antifreeze in traps for older homes, especially toilets, can provide an added layer of security against freezing temperatures. Additionally, installing a monitoring system that alerts you to drops in temperature can protect your home during extended periods away.

Protect your home this winter with expert frozen pipe winterization from Sal Manzo Plumbing. Call (516) 347-7696 now for a free consultation!

From Flowing Water to Frigid Ice: Understanding the Impact

Because the outside temperature frequently falls below water’s freezing point, frozen pipes are a major concern for homeowners in the winter.

A frozen pipe can prevent you from having access to running water in your home, which is a major inconvenience. More importantly, it can cause significant damage to your property. This is because water has the unique property of expanding as it freezes. So, when the water inside your pipes expands, your pipes are under tremendous pressure, which can build up to the point that it causes the pipes to burst.

The impact of a burst pipe goes beyond immediate water damage. It can lead to the development of mold, structural weakening, and increased utility bills from wasted water. Therefore, proactive measures such as pipe insulation, regular inspections, and maintenance play a crucial role. A comprehensive inspection can identify vulnerable areas, allowing for preventive repairs and updates to modern piping standards that are better equipped to handle severe cold.

There are some pipes that are more vulnerable to freezing than others. These include:

• Pipes exposed to severe cold, such as outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.
• Water supply pipes in an unheated interior area, such as a basement, crawl space, attic, garage, or kitchen cabinets and closets.
• Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.
• Hot water pipes freeze first over cold water pipes.

As you can see, it is crucial you keep your pipes bundled up. Our team at Sal Manzo Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. can help by insulating your water pipes. But there are things you need to do, too!

Fall Is Here! Prepare Your Home Properly

Proper preparation prevents inferior performance. It helps you avoid frozen pipes, too. Here is how you can protect your pipes for the onset of colder weather before it arrives:

• Disconnect your water hose from the outdoor spigot. Then, cover the spigot with a Styrofoam insulation cover. If you leave your water hose connected, it can freeze, expand, and cause any indoor pipes that are connected to it to burst.
• Shut off the water valves for outdoor spigots—if you have them—and drain water from your outdoor water lines.
• Check outdoor faucets for drips and leaks. Address any repairs immediately.
• Contact our team to insulate both your hot and cold-water pipes. Remember, this is essential for pipes in an unheated area of your home.

Additionally, inspecting your attic and crawl spaces for adequate insulation can provide further protection. Sealing any gaps or cracks in the foundation or exterior walls can enhance energy efficiency and prevent drafts from making your pipes vulnerable. Consider adding heat tape or pipe sleeves as an additional measure to maintain a consistent temperature. These small steps contribute significantly to preventing inconvenient and costly pipe repairs.

Winter Has Arrived! What To Do Now?

You have prepared your pipes for the colder weather, but now it has arrived. Here is what you can do to keep your pipes warm and your worries on ice:

• Do not let water sit in your pipes. Instead, try to frequently run water through each of your home’s faucets, even if it is just at a trickle. Keeping water moving through your pipes can prevent it from freezing.
• Leave the heat on in your home and set it to no lower than 55 degrees.
• Do NOT drop the heat temperature if it is below freezing outside, as this will cause the water in the heating pipes to become stagnant and freeze.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around your pipes.
• Open closet doors to allow heat into your closets as well.
• Keep your garage door closed if there are water supply lines in your garage. This will help your home stay warmer, too.

In severe cold conditions, let faucets drip during the night when temperatures tend to drop the most. This simple action can prevent pressure build-up if a pipe should freeze. Regularly check for signs of frost on exposed pipes and be proactive in addressing them. Consider investing in a smart home system to monitor and control your home’s temperature remotely, ensuring a quick response to unexpected cold snaps.

Break That Ice, Contact Us Today!

If you notice frost on your pipes, or no water coming out of your faucet, then there is a good chance it is because of a frozen pipe.

Follow these steps immediately & call Sal Manzo Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc.:

• Turn off water at the shutoff valve for the pipes in that area.
• Leave the faucet on to relieve pressure as the pipes thaw.
• Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate.